What Constitutes a Dental Emergency? - Pima Countywebcms.pima.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_6/File/Health...2014/06/18  · What Constitutes a Dental Emergency? Margaret Perry, RDH,

What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?

Margaret Perry, RDH, BSDH, MBA

Program Coordinator

[email protected]

724-7902

A Healthy Pima County

Every one. Every where. Every day.

2014 Public Health In Schools Conference July 22, 2014

Condition

What to do for a Dental Emergency??

Knocked out (evulsed) tooth

1. Retrieve the tooth and hold it by the crown. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it, preferably in the child’s saliva. Do NOT scrub it or remove any tissue. 2. Put the tooth in a cup of cool whole milk. Use water as a last resort. 3. Contact the parent to take the child to a dentist immediately.

Broken tooth

1. Have child rinse mouth with warm water to keep the area clean. 2. If broken piece is found, place in a clean container for dentist for examination purposes only. 3. Use cold compresses on the area to keep swelling down. 4. Contact the parent to take the child to a dentist immediately

Bitten tongue or lip

1. Apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth to stop any bleeding. 2. Place a cold compress to swollen places. 3. If bleeding does not stop within reasonable time, call parent to take child to the emergency room or their health care provider.

Objects caught between teeth

1. If child can hold still, carefully guide dental floss between the teeth to remove object. 2. If object is not easily removable, call parent to take the child to a dentist.

Toothache

1. Have child rinse mouth with warm water and floss to remove any food that might be trapped. 2. Call parent to explain situation and recommend that child see a dentist immediately.

Trauma to jaw/ broken jaw

1. Tie a scarf, handkerchief, necktie or towel around the jaw and over the top of the head to hold the jaw in place. 2. Apply cold compresses to swollen areas. 3. Contact the parent to take the child to a dentist or an emergency room immediately..

From Florida Dental Association (www.floridadental.org/patients/firstaid.html)

Soft-tissue injuries

Injuries to the soft tissues, which include the tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips, can result in bleeding.

To control the bleeding: Rinse mouth with a mild salt-water solution.

Use a moistened piece of gauze or tea bag to apply pressure to the bleeding site. Hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes.

To both control bleeding and relieve pain, hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes.

If the bleeding doesn't stop, see dentist right away or go to a hospital emergency room. Continue to apply pressure on the bleeding site with the gauze until you can be seen and treated.

Chipped or broken teeth

Rinse the mouth using warm water.

If there's bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.

Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth to keep any swelling down and relieve pain.

See dentist as soon as possible.

Orthodontics

Broken braces and wires

If a wire breaks or sticks out of a bracket -eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable position.

-orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or piece of gauze

Never cut the wire!

Loose brackets and bands Temporarily reattach loose braces with a small piece of

orthodontic wax. See orthodontist as soon as possible.

Knocked-out tooth

Hold it by the crown (the part that is usually exposed in the mouth), and rinse off the tooth root with water if it's dirty.

Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments.

If possible, try to put the tooth back in place. Make sure it's facing the right way. Never force it into the socket.

If it's not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (or cup of water that contains a pinch of table salt, if milk is not available). In all cases, see your dentist as quickly as possible.

Extruded (partially dislodged) tooth

See dentist right away.

To relieve pain, apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area.

Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed.

“Toothache”

It may be difficult to know the source of discomfort or pain.

Thoroughly rinse mouth with warm water.

Use dental floss to remove any lodged food.

If the mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of mouth or cheek.

See dentist as soon as possible.

Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue.

Objects caught between teeth

Rinse the mouth using warm water.

Try using dental floss to very gently and carefully remove the object.

If parent can't get the object out, see dentist.

See your dentist as soon as possible -bring the crown.

If possible, slip the crown back over the tooth.

to help hold the crown in place put a dab of toothpaste, over-the-counter dental cement, or denture adhesive.

DO NOT use super glue!

Lost …..

filling or crown

OUCH!

Decay in baby teeth is serious!

Causes pain

Affects eating

Disrupts sleep

Can affect behaviors

The infection can spread throughout the body

ABSCESS

Serious!

See dentist as soon as possible.

To ease the pain and draw the pus toward the surface, try rinsing mouth with a mild salt water several times a day.

Untreated and Treated Tooth Decay by Insurance Status

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Private Insurance Public Insurance No Insurance

27%

32%30%

7%

12%

4%

Untreated

Treated

Office of Oral Health, Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Oral Health Survey of Preschool Children, 2009©

Evidence based community strategy

Children in 2nd and 6th grade

Schools with ≥50% NSLP

Amphi, Flowing Wells, Marana, Sunnyside, Tucson Unified

Education, Screening, Sealant Placement, Referral and Case Management

Arizona School-based Sealant Program

2004 - Present

First Smiles Matter 2009- Present

Desert Senita

Community Health Center

Screening, referral and topical fluoride

Children 0-5 years

Education

Parents

Pregnant women

Childcare providers

Medical & dental providers

Healthy Smiles Healthy Bodies

Arizona Department of Health Services

Office of Oral Health

A Survey of Children in Grades K & 3

17

Thank you!

A Healthy Pima County

Every one. Every where. Every day.

Margaret Perry, RDH, BSDH, MBA Program Coordinator

[email protected] 724-7902